Hospital bed



M- R` HANMORE June 28, 1966 HOSPITAL BED Filed Aug. 19. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A'r'roRNEY June 28, 1966 M. R. HANMORE HosPITAL BED Filed Aug. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvE N-ro mnumce R. HANmoQE BY Emu/VWA, Seam/wf,

HUMA/1X0?" M4 K ATTORNEYS United States Patent O i 3,257,670 HOSPITAL BED Maurice Raymond Hanmore, Basingstoke, England, as-

signor to H. W. Edghill Equipment Limited, Hook, near Basingstoke, England, a company of Great Britain v Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 302,919 Claims priority, application 34,994/62; Jan. 15, 1963, 1,849/63 7 Claims. (Cl. 5-66) This invention relates to so-called hospital beds.

vBroadly the present invention consists in a body having three sections, at the head, centre, and foot of the bed, and elevating mechanism for elevating the adjacent or inner end of at least one of the two outer sections relative to the centre section, or vice versa (that is to say lowering the centre section relative to the outer sections).

Preferably the elevating mechanism is arranged to cause the head section to pivot upwards about a horizontal axis near the head of the bed, and the centre section is also movable downwards.

In a preferred construction the centre section is movable downwards by pivoting about a horizontal axis near one side of the bed.

Conveniently the elevating mechanism for the outer section comprises a link connected to the inner end of the section, and connected at its lower end to a crank or cam on a shaft which is provided with a manual operating lever at the side or end of the bed.

The elevating mechanism may include, or include in addition, amember arranged to be moved in a direction parallel with the length of the bed, for example a trolley arranged to run on rails, which member is connected to the head and foot sections so that movement in one direction causes one of the outer sections to pivot upwards about its inner end and causes the other outer section to pivot downwards about its inner end.

One particular preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a bed embodying the in- `tention; and

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the bed of FIGURE 1.

In this example the bed comprises a head and foot frame 11 supported on the usual legs 12 and connected by an upper frame in the form of a pair of horizontal side members 13 and by a lower frame in the 4form of a pair of parallel horizontal channels 14. On the upper frame there are supported three individual bed sections each comprising a flat panel supporting a separate mattress unit. The head section 15 is pivotally attached to the side members 13 at points 16 adjacent to the centre section 17, being formed with substantially vertical guide slots 18 in which are received rollers 19 attached to the side members. This arrangement permits a limited vertical movement of the inner end of the head section 15. The outer end 21 of the head section 15 has unlimited vertical movement under the control of the elevating mechanism described below.

The centre section 17 comprises a at rigid panel with a lifting handle 22 projecting somewhat at one side of the bed and a latch 23 for holding it locked in the horizontal position. By freeing the latch 23 this centre section 17 can be swung downwards between two vertical side boards 24, pivoting about an axis 25 adjacent one of the side members 13 of the upper frame.

The foot section 26 is pivotally connected between the two side members on a transverse axis 27 and the outer end of this section can swing downwards with the integral bed end 28 to a lower position which is limited by the lower frame 14.

Two diierent types of movement are possible with this construction.

Great Britain, Sept. 13, 1962,

sections for causing the head section to 3,257,670 Patented June 28, 1966 ice In the first type, elevating mechanism is used to lift the inner end of the head section 15 of the bed. A pair of struts 29 are pivotally attached to the two sides of this end of the head section and the lower ends of the struts are connected to cranks 31 on a transverse operating shaft 32 carried by the lower frame, this shaft being connected to a manually operated lever 33 at the side of the bed. This lever is of considerable length whereas the lift of the cranks 31 is relatively small and it is therefore quite easy to lift this inner end of the head section approximately 6 inches. The patient is then supported by the head section, and the centre section 17 can easily be lowered or withdrawn completely and replaced by a bath, bedpan or the like.

In the second type of movement the elevating mechanism comprises a trolley or bogie 34 mounted on the lower framework 14 with four rollers 35 in pairs running in the two channels. A pair of pivoted struts 36 extend from this trolley 34 to the outer end of each of the two outer sections. The trolley can be moved lengthwise by an endless chain 37 running over two sprockets 38 supported in bearings on the lower frame and one of these sprockets is connected to a driving shaft 39 having a manually operated lever 41 at the side of the bed. By swinging this lever 41 through an arc of approximately 180 the trolley 34 can be moved forwards or backwards, thus simultaneously raising the head section 15 and lowering the foot section 26 or vice versa.

Arcuate locking plates 42 are provided with detents 43 on the operating levers to lock the movable parts in any desired position after adjustment.

The elevating mechanism for both types of movement can be operated by other forms of manual or powered devices including for example pneumatic, hydraulic or electric motors.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bed having a head section, a centre section, and a foot section and elevating mechanism for elevating the inner end of the head section relative to the adjacent end of the centre "section, hinge means permitting the head section to turn about a horizontal axis at the head of the bed transverse to the length of the bed.

2. A bed as claimed in claim 1 including further means comprising a pivotal connection and a latch structure for moving the centre section downwards.

3. A bed as claimed in claim 1 in which the elevating mechanism comprises a link connected to the inner end of the head section, a crank connected to the other end of the link, and a manually operating lever for turning the crank.

4. A bed having a head section, a centre section, and a foot section and elevating mechanism for elevating the inner end of the head section relative to the adjacent end of the centre section, hinge means for permitting the head section to turn about a horizontal axis at the head end of the bed transverse to the length of the bed, the elevating mechanism including a track and a trolley movable along the track in a directionparallel with the length of the bed, the trolley being connected to the head and the foot pivot upwards about its inner end and the foot section to pivot downward about its inner end when the trolley moves along the track. 5. A bed as claimed in claim 4 including a chain drive and a crank, driven by a manual operating lever for moving the trolley.

6. A bed having a head, a centre section and a foot section and elevating mechanism for elevating the adjacent end of one of the head and foot sections relative to the centre section comprising a link connected to the inner end of one of the head and foot sections, a crank connected to the other end of the link and a manually operated lever for turning the crank and also comprising a track trolley movable along the track in a direction parallel with the length of the bed, the trolley being connected to the head and foot sections for causing one of the head and foot sections `to pivot upwards about its inner end and the other to pivot downwards about its inner end when the trolley moves along the track, and a manually ope-rating lever and a chain drive and crank for moving the trolley from the manually operating lever, and also comprising a pivotal connection about a horizontal axis near one side of the bed and parallel with the length of the bed on which the centre section is movable downwards.

7. A bed having a head section, a centre section, a foot section, and an elevating means for elevating the inner end of the head section relative to the adjacent end of the centre section, a lever, hinge means for permitting the head section to turn about a horizontal axis at the head of the bed transverse to the length of the `bed said lever coupled to the outer outer end of the foot section for raising the head section end of the head section and to the by pivotal movement about its inner end and for simultaneously lowerin about its inner end.

g the foot section by pivotal movement References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner. 

4. A BED HAVING A HEAD SECTION, A CENTRE SECTION, AND A FOOT SECTION AND ELEVATING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATING THE INNER END OF THE HEAD SECTION RELATIVE TO THE ADJACENT END OF THE CENTRE SECTION, HINGE MEANS FOR PERMITTING THE HEAD SECTION TO TURN ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS AT THE HEAD END OF THE BED TRANSVERSE TO THE LENGTH OF THE BED, THE ELEVATING MECHANISM INCLUDING A TRACK AND A TROLLEY MOVABLE ALONG THE TRACK IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL WITH THE LENGTH OF THE BED, THE TROLLEY BEING CONNECTED TO THE HEAD AND THE FOOT SECTIONS FOR CAUSING THE HEAD SECTION TO PIVOT UPWARDS ABOUT ITS INNER END AND THE FOOT SECTION TO PIVOT DOWNWARD ABOUT ITS INNER END WHEN THE TROLLEY MOVES ALONG THE TRACK. 